Apologies for the delay. In this season, it’s sunday that’s the crazy day, in which five shows that I’m blogging at the same time, and my sundays are often completely booked in real life. When I need to catch up on these series though, I do want to prioritize on the shows that captivate me more. With that, I don’t mean that Mirai Nikki is bad. It’s a fun show, but it didn’t capture me in the way that the other shows that I’m blogging are doing.
After 18 episode, I think I’m pretty sure of the reason why: the complete lack of good side-characters. Looking back, even Seventh were just one-sided over the top lovers. Everyone that Yukiteru and Yuuno faced was one-sided and in the end not very interesting. Only ninth got even close to being a bit of a dynamic character, but even that was bare-bones and ultimately not very rewarding. At this point, eight of the diary owners have died, but what did they really accomplish anyway? That’s pretty much my big criticism of this series.
This episode meanwhile was all about Yuno and Yukiteru. So yeah, these problems didn’t really apply to it. Yukiteru’s father again was a very one-sided character until nearly the end of his life, but at the very least his death had a very clear meaning for Yukiteru. In this episode he really snapped and actually killed someone (unless of course they’re going to play the same crap was when they did when he first shot that officer…). There was a lot of character development on Yukiteru this episode. On top of his feelings for his father, I also liked how they showed a bit of his past, and how he actually had a crush that he confessed to (and actually was turned down).
Also, we finally got to know Yuuno’s background. With six episodes left, it’s about time they did that, but at the very least this explains why she ended up as crazy as she did: parental abuse. A good reason, and Yukiteru was there at the right time for her. This episode tried to be a bit mysterious to the third corpse that Yuuno carried, but I bet that it was that girl that Yukiteru confessed to. This is anime. A female who once has been hinted towards being a potential love interest will never be able to move on and have her own life.
Rating: ** (Excellent)
“but I bet that it was that girl that Yukiteru confessed to.”
No. And don’t even try to guess who it is. I’ll bet real money you won’t get it right. I shat bricks for a whole day after I read that part.
Aye I agree and I haven’t read the manga past the middle of chapter 36.
The body must be related to that spoiler-ish opening scene of episode 1 where an unknown assailant attacks Yuno.
I smell some kind of paradox here…
Psgels is right– the characterization is mostly flat and one dimensional, but that isn’t the goal of this show/series. A good critic must recognize the goals of an artwork, its internal aesthetic standards and judge the work on its own merit. No story should conform to some external standard that’s mostly based on subjective opinions or tastes.
All in all, a Solid jumpstart to the next story arc.
How far are they from the reveal?
It’s been driving me nuts coming up with theories since Yuki found the damn things.
If all goes well, starting with the next episode.
Remember those slow, lighthearted segments such as the amusement park, mock wedding and reunion with dad? For better or worse, the bunny suit marks an end to them.
Keep in mind, we are at July 10 already. Yuno’s “Happy End” is merely 18 days away.
Well, going backwards, episode 26 would be the final confrontation, 25 would be the big reveal, 24 would be the ending of a battle, 23 would be the begging of a battle, 22 would be set up, 21 and 20 would be an assault. Next episode should be preparations. Hope I’m not spoiling anything.
Oh, someone mentioned Yuki should take off that stupid hat after 18 episodes… well, if memory serves me correctly, we won’t see that hat anymore 😛
I completely agree about the side characters. Both Akise and Ninth seemed interesting at first, but they stopped focusing on them at all lately.
Akise and Ninth each gets his/her own spinoff manga, so obviously they are much more significant to the storyline then what they are at this stage of the game.
Rest assured, both Akise and Ninth will get a major role soon.
People! Spoilers!
There’s more to Yuno’s craziness than just abuse. The Yuno parts in the OP are more literal than just a figurative presentation of her mental state.
All the plot twist with the father is just stupid.
“You killed my mom > Oh,i forgive you > HOW DARE YOU KILL MY DAAAAAAAAD?!”
Nigga please, worst episode of the season.
Anyone noticed that Yukki’s love interest is strangely simillar to his mother (Freud would get tons of money with this boy).
^^ And that, what ‘Bakka’ said. I was sure that Yukki will gut his father open.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Yuno is my favorite character of the series. She’s a joy to watch; her nuttiness is just so infectious. We’re glad she finally got some plausible backstory. Considering Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu was the only other thing she seems to have done, her seiyu Tomosa Murata shows great range juggling all of Yuno’s various personas, especially in this episode.
Once and for all, Yuno states she’s ready to die for Yuki, anytime, anywhere, for any reason. I had previously harbored the suspicion she had ulterior motives (after all, as god she could truly make Yuki hers), but it would seem she’s truly committed to him, perhaps confident he’d bring her back along with his parents if he wins. The only problem is, CAN Yuki win?
Spoilers people! Those of us who’ve already read it should just shut up and let everyone else be surprised on their own, don’t ya think?
You know what’s also interesting?
Yunno says her future is to be Yuki’s bride.
And then sometimes her phone says “Happy End”
and as I read your reviews while I watch, I was wondering about that too. If Dead End is death then is Happy End killing everyone else?
No.
I think this episode showed that Yunno knows she will eventually die, because in a sense she lives her life through Yuki. So a “Happy End” is when Yuki wins I think, or when Yunno dies for Yuki.
:d